London Olympic Medalist Marlen Esparza Left Tearful After Rio Elimination
London Olympic Medalist Marlen Esparza Left Tearful After Rio Elimination
Reigning Olympic bronze medalist and 2014 world champion Marlen Esparza posted a series of tearful videos on social media after she was eliminated by up-and

Reigning Olympic bronze medalist and 2014 world champion Marlen Esparza posted a series of tearful videos on social media after she was eliminated by up-and-coming flyweight Virginia Fuchs in a split-decision during Saturday's U.S. Olympic WomenÂ’s Boxing Trials in Memphis.
Fuchs beat Esparza twice during the week, both times by split decision, to punch her ticket to Rio.
Esparza's elimination was the most shocking result of the weekend. At the 2012 London Games, she and Clarissa Shields were the only Americans to win boxing medals, but it was Esparza who became a popular mainstream athlete with a Cover Girl endorsement deal and commercial appearances for McDonalds and Coca-Cola. Esparza also has a boxing boot made specifically for her by Nike.
On Sunday, the 26-year-old Esparza took to her Instagram to express her emotions in this series of nine videos:
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Below is a transcript of the videos:
Fuchs beat Esparza twice during the week, both times by split decision, to punch her ticket to Rio.
Esparza's elimination was the most shocking result of the weekend. At the 2012 London Games, she and Clarissa Shields were the only Americans to win boxing medals, but it was Esparza who became a popular mainstream athlete with a Cover Girl endorsement deal and commercial appearances for McDonalds and Coca-Cola. Esparza also has a boxing boot made specifically for her by Nike.
On Sunday, the 26-year-old Esparza took to her Instagram to express her emotions in this series of nine videos:
[instagram url="https://instagram.com/p/9jgVdKqQwq/?taken-by=marlen_esparza" hide_caption="0"]
[instagram url="https://instagram.com/p/9jm7sAqQwO/?taken-by=marlen_esparza" hide_caption="0"]
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[instagram url="https://instagram.com/p/9jnKhrqQwz/?taken-by=marlen_esparza" hide_caption="0"]
[instagram url="https://instagram.com/p/9jnUbjqQxP/?taken-by=marlen_esparza" hide_caption="0"]
[instagram url="https://instagram.com/p/9jncP7qQxn/?taken-by=marlen_esparza" hide_caption="0"]
[instagram url="https://instagram.com/p/9jnoOIqQyF/?taken-by=marlen_esparza" hide_caption="0"]
[instagram url="https://instagram.com/p/9jobqCKQ0D/?taken-by=marlen_esparza" hide_caption="0"]
[instagram url="https://instagram.com/p/9jo3q3qQ1N/?taken-by=marlen_esparza" hide_caption="0"]
Below is a transcript of the videos:
OK, everyone, I haven’t been on social media, and I’m sure we all know that I didn’t win at these Olympic trials, so I just wanted to give you guys a little feedback.
So I had to get myself together. I did everything I could do at this tournament, and I have a lot left. And I just want to say thank you to everybody who helped me.
I’ve been through a lot. And I’ve been doing this since I was 12. It’s not completely over, and for everybody who wished bad against me.
I know you think that I was overrated or I didn’t deserve it or didn’t want it, but this is my life, this is my soul.
I’m sorry that you feel that way, but it’s not the truth. I worked hard my whole life for this, and if it wasn’t meant for me, then it wasn’t.
God has his plan, and I’ll figure it out, and it’ll be OK. But thank you, again, for everybody that’s there for me.
And to everyone who follows me, who loves me, supports me, this isn’t the end. I’m going to show that just because you fail once doesn’t mean you’re going to fail forever.
I thought these videos were appropriate so you could see me again. For everybody who loves me and supports me, I know who you are and thank you, but it’s not over, and I’m excited for the future.
All right, so I can’t handle much more again. I’m out. Thank you guys, and you’ll be seeing me again.